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Welcome to the Department of Community and Human Services

We envision a community in which residents enjoy a sense of well-being, safety and self-sufficiency. We strive to provide effective and essential safety net services that measurably improve or maintain the quality of life for Alexandrians. We are guided by the following values and principles: equal access for all people, dignity and respect, cultural competency, ethics and accountability, collaboration, competency, integrity and continuous improvement.

Join the Alexandria Commission for Women at the 35th Annual Salute to Women Awards. The awards, which recognize women, men and youth who have made a significant impact on women in Alexandria, will be presented at a ceremony Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Madison Auditorium located at 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information please visit the Salute to Women Awards. Money raised will support the Alexandria Sexual Assault Program.

The Alexandria Fund for Human Services (AFHS) announces a Request for Grant Proposals for fiscal years 2016 to 2018. The Fund awards grants through a competitive process to organizations providing human services to Alexandria residents. All proposals must be transmitted electronically using the online application. Additional information and links to the application, FAQ’s, and guidelines for completing the application at the AFHS web page or by contacting Ron Frazier at 703.746.5967 or ron.frazier@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is offering free tax preparation to qualifying residents. Taxpayers are eligible if their income is below approximately $35,000 for individuals and $51,000 for families. Expert volunteers from Community Tax Aid, Inc. will ensure that taxpayers apply for all applicable credits and deductions, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, which people often don’t realize they are eligible to receive. See flyer for complete details. Download flyer which has information in both English and Spanish.

The City of Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services has
updated the Directory of Resources for Older Adults and Persons with
Disabilities. The directory provides contact information for organizations and
City departments that offer services for older adults such as assisted living
facility placement, case management, in-home services and support for
caregivers. The guide also provides information on resources for persons with
disabilities. To download the Directory click here. To request a copy, call 703.746.5999, option 1.

Every year in the U.S. more than
a thousand babies die from unexplained causes. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) happens to babies under the age of one year and has no known cause, even
after extensive investigation. Over the years health professionals have
encouraged parents to place babies on their backs when putting them to bed at
night or for a nap, with no loose blanket or bedding. This simple action has
reduced the SIDS rate by 50%. To learn more about ways to ensure that your baby
has a safe sleep, visit http://www.nichd.nih.gov/SIDS.

JobLink, Alexandria's One-Stop Career Center, is now offering a variety of workshops to assist persons in finding employment. The workshops are designed for job seekers at all levels of the career ladder and all occupations. Learn more about the offerings and check out the calendar on the JobLink page.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training continues for laypersons and paraprofessionals in Alexandria. MHFA is an 8-hour training on skills to help persons who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Registration is open until filled. Limit 20 participants per class. More information about the training is available here, or visit our online registration form for class dates and registration. All classes are held at 4480 King St., fifth floor, unless otherwise indicated. Attendees of the full 8-hour course will receive a three-year certification in MHFA. For more information about MHFA, visit mentalhealthfirstaid.org.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among Americans, claiming more than twice as many lives each year as homicides. Learn more about this serious public health problem and what we can do to help prevent suicide.

The Department of Community and Human Services welcomes you to the online mental health screening and the screening tool for substance use disorders. This free screening is made available to the general public and is taken anonymously. The screening is provided so that you may find out - in a few minutes - whether or not professional consultation would be helpful to you.

We are pleased to present the Department of Community and Human Services Strategic Plan for FY 2013 - FY 2015. The plan is a long-term blueprint aligned with the City of Alexandria Strategic Plan. The plans work to ensure we remain sound financial stewards of public resources by improving existing operations and responding to outside challenges while providing effective and efficient safety net services that measurably improve or maintain the quality of life for Alexandrians.

We welcome this opportunity to share our FY 2014 activities. The Department of Community and Human Services is organized into three direct care centers: the Center for Adult Services, the Center for Children and Families, and the Center for Economic Support, as well as two offices: the Office of Administrative Services and the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Communications. The pages of this annual reporthighlight our fiscal information along with the accomplishments of our centers, offices and those of the people we serve.